# The best movie no one ever heard of. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922 "2005-07-18T00:56:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/61 "2005-07-19T02:50:25Z")
IMHO…Bubba Ho Tep is hardly unheard of. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/62 "2005-07-19T04:39:16Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > IMHO…Bubba Ho Tep is hardly unheard of. Elvis: Jack, President Kennedy was a white man. JFK: They _dyed_ me this color! I’ve spread the word on this film to everyone I know (yeah, like that’s a big group). So far, only two people were impressed; the rest just decried it as “weird.” :rolleyes: Don’t even get me started on the number of people who hated/didn’t get _Being John Malkovich_. If spending 15 minutes in the mind of the eponymous character, then being dumped out on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike isn’t funny, then I don’t know what is. I don’t get people who think two hours of Will Farrell doing bad _Saturday Night Live_ skits is riotous but fail to chuckle mice being trained in table manners. While we’re at it, let me throw in on _The Triplets of Belleville_, which also seems to have been seen by about half a dozen people on the North American continent. Personally, I saw it three times in the theater, and own the Django Reinhardt-influenced soundtrack. Utterly brilliant, especially the surrealistic chase scene in the end. Stranger Cleopatra does the nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/63 "2005-07-19T04:43:05Z")
[Blind Faith.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135166/) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/64 "2005-07-19T06:01:20Z")
I’m just surprised at all the movies here that “no one’s heard of” that I have on video. In that vein, a couple more from me… [_Return to Me_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122459/) A sweet little movie. (As in “touching” not "duuude, that is _sweeet!_), that I don’t think I could describe even a little without giving away huge chunks of plot. Starring David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, James Belushi, and Carrol O’Connor in his last film. Written, directed, and co-starring Bonnie Hunt. (And none the worse for it, believe me) [_The Last Valley_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065969/). With Omar Sharif, and Michael Caine as a grim German—I think he was German. Could be something else, though—mercenary captain in the Thirty Years War. Good movie. _Great_ soundtrack. Not exactly an “upbeat” ending, though. (Well, the rest of the story ain’t too cheery, either. I mean, _any_ movie that references the sack of Magdeburg…) [_The Desperate Trail_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109607/). Actually, I’m guessing that this one can’t be _that_ unknown, seeing as it has Sam Elliot in it. And anyone who likes these kinds of westerns would have already seen something with Sam. But still, fun movie. Loved the anti-hero and heroine. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/65 "2005-07-19T06:14:11Z")
I was thinking that it isn’t that unknown, but how about [The Stunt Man](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081568/) . Probably the best role Peter O’Toole ever played. Its about a man on the run from the law who seeks refuge in the world of movie magic. Ok that is a crappy description, I will never write for the back of video boxes, but the movie is amazing, and has a score that will stay with you for days. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Wrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Mr.Wrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Wrong)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/66 "2005-07-19T06:24:07Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > _The Blue Igauna_, starring a pre-_Practice_ Dylan McDermott. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude! Flea dancing to “Sex Machine”? " I want some FUNK! Gimme some Fuuuuuuuunk!" ---
**Author:** ![dearissues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@dearissues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dearissues)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/67 "2005-07-19T07:17:05Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > [_Leaving Normal_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104697/) Thelma and Louise for grown-ups. > > [_What Dreams May Come_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120889/) _What Dreams May Come_ is an excellent movie. I would have nominated it, but I believed it to be fairly well-known. I nominate [Legend](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089469/), although I’m not sure of it’s obscurity. The only reason I believe it to be so is because I have yet to meet anyone who has seen it. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/68 "2005-07-19T09:25:42Z")
Check the cheapie DVD bin at your local retail giant- it may well have THE BEAST. Two that stick in my head- a really odd psychedelic musical JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS- not great but memorable! WISE BLOOD- John Huston directs Brad Dourif, Harry Dean Stanton & Ned Beatty in Flannery O’Connor’s tale about Hazel Motes (Dourif) who can’t shake God’s call on his life, He preaches against God & Jesus on street corners and people accept Jesus. He steals an infant mummy with crazy daughter of fake preacher (Stanton) & she sees it as the Christ Child. He runs over Ned Beatty & he begs JC for mercy as he dies. The poor anti-theist kid can’t get a break. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/69 "2005-07-19T10:14:53Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > IMHO…Bubba Ho Tep is hardly unheard of. Bubba Ho Tep had a pretty limited release in the theater and outside of certain geek circles it isn’t well known. Heck, the star of the movie isn’t well known outside of certain geek circles. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/70 "2005-07-19T10:22:56Z")
Lonestar starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Pena, Kris Krisstopherson, and included Matthew McConaughey was a pretty good movie most people have never heard of. It’s set in a small west Texas town but it isn’t a western. A great movie with good dialogue and direction. Marc ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/71 "2005-07-19T11:23:22Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > ::makes face:: > > Sorry, but that film came off to me as a slapdash mix of better ideas and films. And the dog… Whenever you play the sympathy card like that, I can’t help but feel that my buttons are being pushed. > > Also, almost no one seems to have seen Sam Raimi’s [A Simple Plan](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120324/), which is a shame 'cause it’s a great story; one of those noirish type of scenerios were things just keep getting worse and worse. It’d make a good pairup with the Coen’s first feature, _Blood Simple_. > > Stranger I love this movie, too, but it’s hardly unknown. It was nominated for many, many [awards](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120324/awards), including an Oscar nod for Thorton. I got physically ill the first time I saw this - that same horrible feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when the police lights and siren turn on behind you in traffic. I felt so bad for these characters, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. What a great movie! I love this thread - I’ve made several additions to my Netflix queue just from reading it! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/72 "2005-07-19T13:37:33Z")
I’m going out on a limb here and will recommend [The Big Blue](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095250/) too in the hope that, like Paint Your Wagon, it’s not one of those flicks that I liked as a kid but was godawful when I saw it as an adult. Set in the Mediterranean, the scenery is spectacular and what other movie is going to educate you about the ins and outs of free dive competition? Jean Reno is thoroughly enjoyable in this, as is Jean-Marc Barr and the movie, while a bit campy at time, still succeeds despite the presence of Rosanna Arquette. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/73 "2005-07-19T14:21:20Z")
[Time After Time](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080025/), easily the best time \travel\ movie I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/74 "2005-07-19T16:03:06Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > I love this thread - I’ve made several additions to my Netflix queue just from reading it! Ditto zip.ca (for us canucks). ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/75 "2005-07-19T16:08:19Z")
I love smaller, independent movies and have seen quite a few listed in this thread (Last Seduction, Lonestar, Bubba Ho Tep, Sorcerer, Two Lane Blacktop, The Last Supper, and of course Legend - fairies! unicorns!). I would recommend [Grace of My Heart](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116442/). ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/76 "2005-07-19T16:16:14Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > I’m a big fan of [Closet Land](http://imdb.com/title/tt0101597/), and I’m pretty sure most people never heard of it. I had seen it but not heard of it. Until [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=240644) solved the problem. My entry is [Caro Diario](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109382/). Never met anyone who’d seen that who wasn’t Italian. Depending on your point of view it’s either incoherent and dull or fantastically funny and _gasp_ a bit philosophical even. ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/77 "2005-07-19T16:24:28Z")
Pumpkin, starring a blond Christina Ricci. It’s funny as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/78 "2005-07-19T16:56:20Z")
I second or third or whatever, **Waking Ned Devine** (awesome!) and **Sneakers** , and add to the list: **[The Guru](http://www.reel.com/movie.asp?MID=137059&buy=closed&PID=10109737&Tab=reviews&CID=18#tabs)** – An hilarious, high-camp spoof on several themes, among them, Bollywood flicks and movie musicals (primarily Grease). Absolutely fabulous fun. **[Shaun of the Dead](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365748/)** – Another hilarious spoof movie, this time about zombies. [See the trailer here](http://www.focusfeatures.com/viewer.php?f=shaun_of_the_dead&c=trailer&ext=wmv&w=480&h=202). **[Italian for Beinners](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020201/REVIEWS/202010303/1023)** – A quirky little romantic comedy (Danish, with English subtitles). ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_in_second_hand_clothing)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/79 "2005-07-19T17:05:14Z")
**Shaun of the Dead** and **The Triplets of Belleville** were both great movies that, like **MGibson** pointed out about Bubba Ho-tep, are adored in the geek circles, but knowledge of them is pretty much restricted to said circles of geekiness. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922/80 "2005-07-19T18:00:39Z")
The vampire films by **Jean Rollin** aren’t well enough known. They are campy-erotic with a wonderful French whimsey and some of the sexiest girls on film. Try **Shiver of the Vampires, aka Frisson des vampires**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-no-one-ever-heard-of/312922.md?page=5)